Have you ever met a person that seems to eat "whatever they want" - going out to eat at fancy restaurants, enjoying decadent desserts, eating foods that you deem "unhealthy" on a regular basis - but who still manages to enjoy good health? Often times, it can seem mysterious that some people who truly seem to love and enjoy food can eat a diet that a health-conscious person might deem "unhealthy" without gaining weight or having negative health effects. These types of "foodies" have a particularly strong interest in food - they research recipes in their free time, save their money to try out the new restaurant in town, and read food magazines. They spend time going to farmer's markets and buy fresh, high-quality food. They are lovers of food and therefore have exceptionally good health. But why?

For one, a person who loves food often has a high standard of food. Much as a connoisseur snubs a poor quality wine, a true foodie can hardly imagine eating food that wasn't fresh or didn't delight their palate. They would refuse to eat something that did not taste good to them. They pay close attention to their taste buds' preferences and savor each and every bite of their food. They eat in a slow, relaxed environment. They frequent fancy restaurants, where portions are smaller and more reasonable than more conventional diners and chain restaurants. The French embody the passionate approach to food and enjoy some of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world, despite the the diet rich in saturated fat from natural sources like butter and whole milk yogurt. All of this insinuates that loving food - and paying attention to it - means better food choices and ultimately, better health.

Clients often come to our clinic believing they are overweight because they are indulgent lovers of food. We've found, from our experiences, this is just not the case. Eating food quickly without paying attention, eating food for emotional comfort instead of for taste, and eating without truly enjoying the food are the most common causes of weight problems we see in our clinic. This is true even when people try to eat "healthy". A person who eats celery or salads solely because they are "healthy" is simply force-feeding their body nutrients they might not need. Eating slowly and truly enjoying your food seems to help people stayed tuned to the nutritional needs of their body, whether they are eating celery or chocolate cake.

So, how could a person start to incorporate passion into their food choices? Here are a few ideas:

• Start by taking time to prepare your meals that appeal to your eye. Make sure the meal looks nice on your plate - like something you actually want to eat, or something you might eat at a nice restaurant. Invest in beautiful dishware. If you bring your lunch to work, bring one of your favorite bowls along so that you can eat it out of something pleasant instead of from an old tupperware container.
• Give yourself full, and honest, permission. Reflect on what your body truly wants before the meal, and then give yourself full permission to have it (without guilt). Often what the body wants and what the mind wants are at odds, and discovering the needs of your body can take years if you are accustomed to feeding the hungers of the mind. But, even if you are beginner, take a few moments to check in with yourself to discover your true, cellular food cravings.
• Say a prayer before your eat your meal. Honor your food, honor your creator, and give thanks before putting anything in your body.
• Really savor the first bite. Eat it slowly and carefully. Put down your fork and chew thoroughly. Notice the food's many different facets and flavors. What is interesting about this meal? What tastes do you notice? Does it delight you, or bore you?
• Set aside at least twenty minutes for your meal (and preferably an hour). Studies show that you need twenty minutes to truly feel fullness. If you eat quicker than that, your body might think it is still hungry when it is really full. The more time you take to eat, the more able you are to enjoy and digest for your food.
• Eat somewhere nice. If it is a nice day, eat outside by some flowers. If you are indoors, set your table formerly. Sit on a park bench if you are in the city instead of at the cubicle or in front of the computer. Put down the phone while eating and don't check it until you are done. These little changes can really make a big difference.
• If you don't love it, don't eat it. Sometimes we feel pressure to finish our plate or eat something that we aren't crazy about. But in most cases, if your taste buds don't like it, your body probably won't like it either. Better to throw it away or compost.
• Notice how you feel after the meal. Are you satisfied from the meal? Did the meal measure up to what you anticipated? Is it what your body truly wanted and needed at that moment? Did the food affect your emotions?

Start incorporating a few of these tips to spark a passion for food. Overtime, you may notice that your relationship with food changes - you may crave different foods, feel satisfied from less food, and overall just enjoy a greater sense of well-being and peace around food.

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